Anti-semitism is a real threat and should be opposed. Civil rights laws are an important and necessary tool in upholding the rights of all people. However, it is a distortion of civil rights to use federal civil rights law to silence political speech and advocacy for Palestinian human rights.

A recent bill introduced in New Jersey aims to treat criticism of Israel as anti-semtitism in public schools and colleges. The bill would codify a controversial definition of anti-Semitism that includes some criticims of Israel. While preventing discrimiantion, including anti-semetic

Last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB741, a bill intended to codify protections against anti-Semitic discrimination in public schools. However, activists and civil rights groups have warned that the definition used for anti-Semitism conflates criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism.

Texas is like 27 other states in that it prohibits supporters of boycotts, divestment, and sanctions for Palestinian rights from receiving state contracts. It has also joined another growing group of states–those that have had their anti-BDS laws blocked by

The Senate is off to a bad start. The very first bill introduced, S.1, is an omnibus that includes the “Combating BDS Act of 2019.” It’s a bill designed to chill criticism of Israel. That’s right. As the new Senate convenes

Arkansas and Texas aren’t unique in having laws on the books aimed at penalizing supporters of Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) for Palestinian rights. They are among 26 states to have enacted such laws. Arkansas and Texas have also joined another growing subset of states--those who face First Amendment challenges to their anti-BDS laws.

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), is following in Cardin's footsteps and has announced he will try to get the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act language into the budget. Anti-semitism is deplorable. And people should be aware of it. But this bill isn't about combating anti-semitism, it's about perverting federal civil rights law to silence supporters of Palestinian civil rights.

For two years now, we've fought to stop the unconstitutional Israel Anti-Boycott Act. And thanks to an outpouring of opposition from individuals like you, this First Amendment violating bill has been stalled. But now the bill's sponsor, Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), is working behind the scenes to sneak the Israel Anti-Boycott Act into the must-pass end of the year spending bill.

Academic freedom for supporters of Palestinian human rights is under fire.As a civil liberties organization, Defending Rights & Dissent takes no position on Palestine-Israel. However, we recognize there is a concerted, unconstitutional effort to silence supporters of Palestinian human rights. As an organization founded by victims of McCarthyism, we are obligated to speak out against such affronts to political expression and organizing

On September 28, 2018, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction against an Arizona anti-boycott law. Like many states, Arizona passed a law targeting supporters of Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) for Palestinian human rights. The law denies state contracts to parties who boycott Israel.

We will never give up our right to protest. That’s why DRAD is fighting back against bills that attack the right to protest and promoting proactive legislation that protects the right to protest. It’s also why we are engaging in